jp*******@hotmail.com (Jacquie) wrote in
news:64**************************@posting.google.c om:
Dave Patton <sp**@trap.invalid> wrote in message
news:<Xn*********************************@24.71.22 3.159>... jp*******@hotmail.com (Jacquie) wrote in
news:64**************************@posting.google.c om:
> www.nscadesign.ca/potvin
You should fix the HTML as a first step.
Then fix things which may validate, but
make no sense, such as the "Home" link,
which is broken.
Then you should look at your home page
with images disabled and ask yourself
if that's really what you want people
to "see".
My images aren't broken on the computers I checked however.
Aside from the home link broken, can u view the portfolio page clearly?
A)
You are making some fundamental mistakes in the authoring(note that
I didn't say "design") of your website. Don't feel bad - many people
make the same mistakes, and particularly those with 'design skills'.
You may want to "take a step back" and learn some more before going
any further, because in the end you'll likely just end up having
to replace much of your current content.
B)
For a start, you should only author HTML that is valid. There's
little point in "figuring out why something doesn't work", or
in asking for a site critique, without starting with valid HTML.
Use the W3C validator:
http://validator.w3.org/detailed.html
to validate each and every webpage you author. For example, your
site's index page has 6 validation errors.
C)
Do not try and produce "pixel perfect" web pages - that's not
'how the web works'. Remember, your webpages are a guest on the
visitor's computer, and it's not up to you what size they may
want to view them at. Strive for 'fluid design' that adapts,
within reason, to a variety of browser viewport sizes.
D)
Don't put examples on your website that demonstrate that you
don't know how to do something properly. For example, you
have a "portfolio page"(incorrectly titled as "list"):
http://www.nscadesign.ca/potvin/pages/list.html
that has a "Web Design" link. That shouldn't be there unless
your own website utilizes proper practices, although you
would be far from the first person/company to do this.
Another example - don't give examples of the use of Flash
unless you are very sure what you are doing. Is this really
you want people to see, either at the client's website, or
as an example of your work?:
http://members.shaw.ca/caninfosys/temp/badflash.jpg
You might want to read the thread that started July 26th
in the alt.html newsgroup titled:
What % of browsers are Flash enabled?
E)
ALways use a standards-compliant browser when developing and
testing your webpages. You may then have to 'tweak things' to
cater to the idiosyncrasies of things like operating system
components pretending to be browsers, such as Internet Explorer.
I'd suggest taking a look at Mozilla Firefox, installing it
with the DOM inspector, and getting the Web Developer extension.
F)
Don't use tables for layout - that's what CSS is for.
HTML is for markup. Javascript and Flash should be
considered 'optional extras'.
G)
I know you are a 'graphic designer', so this may sound odd
to you, but don't rely on images. For example, you misunderstood
my suggestion about disabling images. Take a look at this:
<
http://www.delorie.com/web/lynxview.....nscadesign.ca
%2Fpotvin%2Findex.html>
Is that really what you want people to see on your home page?
Here's your homepage right before I disable images:
http://members.shaw.ca/caninfosys/temp/images-1.jpg
and here's what I get:
http://members.shaw.ca/caninfosys/temp/images-2.jpg
You may say to yourself - but my site is about graphic design,
so I want images, but consider that the above fairly closely
represents what a search engine "sees". Of course there is
also the issue of accessability(e.g. for people with impaired
vision), which you may be required to address, or conform to,
when working for some companies or government organisations.
H)
Don't give up hope! You aren't ready to 'participate' yet
on this website, because you don't know enough about CSS,
etc., but take a look at the CSS Zen Garden:
http://www.csszengarden.com/
Participation, in terms of submitting a design, is limited
to graphic artists, but you can learn a lot from the website.
Try some of the designs. Don't worry for now about "the details".
Just appreciate that all those designs are possible without
changing any HTML. That's because HTML is used for the page's
MARKUP, while CSS is used for the page's PRESENTATION.
There - that should keep you busy for now ;-)
--
Dave Patton
Canadian Coordinator, Degree Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org/
My website:
http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/ 
